| some feature gulf views, and upgraded quarters add pull-out sofas. set on the beach along the gulf of mexico, this laid-back hotel dating from 1958 is 9 miles from the dali museum and 10 miles from boyd hill nature preserve. parking is free. other amenities include a heated outdoor pool and a terrace with gulf views, plus a sundeck, shuffleboard courts and bbq grills. check-in time: 2:00 pmcheck-out time: 10:00 am. down-to-earth rooms and suites come with complimentary wi-fi, 32-inch flat-screen tvs, dvd players and kitchenettes
Tampa International Airport 37 min
Chihuly Collection (18 min)
Unique sculptures by legendary glass artist Dale Chihuly, plus glass-blowing demonstrations. Upham Beach Park (8 min)
Wide, white sandy beach backed by dunes, known for dolphin sightings & light surfing. Morean Arts Center (18 min)
Free-entry contemporary art gallery showcasing local & international work & offering classes. Saint Petersburg Pier (1 hr 40) Great Explorations Children's Museum (23 min)
Nonprofit museum offering 18,000 sq. ft. of hands-on exhibits & workshops aimed at kids. Fort De Soto Park (23 min)
Beaches, camping, trails & a historic fort in a vast park spread over multiple connected islands. Boyd Hill Nature Preserve (23 min)
Natural retreat with abundant wildlife, trails, picnic areas, a gift shop & scenic tram tours. Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge (28 min)
Former military base is now an endangered wildlife preserve accessible only by water. Sunshine Skyway Bridge (33 min) Museum of Fine Arts (21 min)
Exhibits spanning 4,000 years, including African art, European paintings & American photography. Sunset Beach (3 min)
White-sand beach with turquoise water, a pavilion & a boardwalk over the dunes, plus sunset views. The Dalí (Salvador Dalí Museum) (22 min)
Extensive collection of surrealist art by Salvador Dalí housed in a building with 900 glass panels. Florida Botanical Gardens (24 min)
Cultivated gardens featuring local & tropical flora plus 90 acres of diverse natural habitats. John's Pass (6 min)
Quaint, historic fishing village with shops, bars, restaurants & watersports outfitters. Sunken Gardens (22 min)
Tropical, century-old attraction featuring thousands of plants, a butterfly aviary & wildlife shows. | 
